Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant

Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

MCLB Albany VWAP Program

MCLB Albany’s Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) is designed to ensure victims and witnesses of crime are treated with fairness and dignity and are afforded their rights throughout the criminal justice process – from the first report of a crime through any period of confinement adjudged by a court-martial.

Mr. Forest Thomas is the Victim and Witness Liaison Officer (VWLO) for MCLB Albany and acts as the Commanding Officer, MCLB Albany’s manager for the VWAP Program aboard the base. In that capacity, Mr. Thomas chairs the VWAP Council, manages and maintains a list of all unit Victim Witness Assistance Coordinators and other base Victim Witness Representatives, provides liaison with local civilian services for victims of crime, tracks all services provided and is the central point of contact for the base program.

Pursuant to Marine Corps Directives, each office or agency which provides services to victims and witnesses (see list below) appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Representative and each unit (Battalion and Squadron level and above) appoints a Victim Witness Assistance Coordinator (VWAC). The VWAC and other representatives are responsible for that unit or office’s part of the base VWAP.

Mr. Thomas can be contacted at (229) 639-9522 or click here to email him.

The MCLB Albany Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides legal assistance for family matters such as divorce and child support and can provide referral to civilian attorneys when needed. The Office of the SJA also provides legal advice and support to all MCLB Albany tenant commands in the prosecution of Marines and Sailors in general, special, and summary courts-martial. Rights and services afforded by the military justice office to victims and witnesses during the criminal trial process include:
The right to be present at all public court proceedings, the right to be contacted about the proposed dismissal of any and all charges, the right to be consulted on decisions not to prosecute, the right to be contacted regarding the proposed terms of any negotiated plea, and the right to be notified of the acceptance of a guilty plea, or any conviction, sentencing and imprisonment of the accused.
(229) 639-5212

MCLB Albany Criminal Investigation and Law Enforcement

NCIS, CID and MCPD provide investigative services for criminal offenses. Criminal investigators and law enforcement personnel are responsible for providing victims and witnesses of crimes with the initial information under the VWAP and ensuring they have points of contact for all available services and assistance under the VWAP.

The installation SARC coordinates all the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) activities aboard MCLB Albany and is a point of contact for victims of sexual assault.

(229) 639-7938

Correctional Facilities(Brigs)

Military brigs house inmates before, during, and after the trial. An accused service member assigned to an MCLB Albany command will placed into pretrial or post-trial confinement at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Brig. As a victim or a witness, upon request you will be afforded the right to receive notifications regarding changes in the status of an inmate including: release, parole, transfer, and death.
(904) 542-3315

A Unit VWAC is the command’s primary point of contact for victim and witness assistance matters. In conjunction with the VWLO, VWAC’s coordinate victim and witness assistance matters within their individual units. Victims and witnesses should not hesitate to contact their unit’s VWAC for more information, assistance, or to help get in contact with victim and witness assistance services.